Fast Food Workers Protest In Peoria

Thu, 15 May 2014 15:13:47 CDTBy: Sarah Beckman

Fast-food workers in Peoria are on strike again, demonstrating for a 15 dollar an hour wage and the right to form a union. Seven stores in the city are without their regular work force as part of a wave of walkouts in more than 150 cities across the nation. 19-year-old McDonald's worker, Lavondre Sanford says this is his second demonstration in six months in Peoria.

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"I am here to raise my voice and be heard. I want to help people support themselves and their families and make sure they can support one another."

Sanford works part-time at McDonald's and uses his paycheck to save money for college and help his unemployed mother. Though the strikes in Peoria didn't shut down any stores, a Chicago McDonald's did not have enough workers to serve breakfast this morning. Strikes and protests are reaching more than 230 cities worldwide. Opponents of the unionization effort claim such a wage level would kill many jobs, and drive up the cost of doing business and or the food to unsustainable levels. Some workers on strike say they'll protest until their wages are raised. Hundreds of other fast-food workers walked out in more than 150 cities across the US and in 33 countries. The campaign started in New York City in November 2012 with 200 workers going on strike.